Featuring Mickey Gitzin

Tuesday, April 21, 7:00pm

This Yom Ha’atzma’ut, Israeli Independence Day, marks 78 years since the birth of the State of Israel. At this challenging time and critical juncture, how do we support the vision and build the future of the Israel we want to see? Beth David hosts Mickey Gitzin, the Director of the New Israel Fund in Israel.

The New Israel Fund (NIF) helps Israel live up to its founders’ vision of a society that ensures complete equality to all its inhabitants. Its aim is to advance liberal democracy, including freedom of speech and minority rights, and to fight the inequality, injustice and extremism that diminish Israel. From Israel’s first rape crisis centers, to fighting discrimen-ation, NIF-funded organizations have driven positive social change and furthered justice and equality. NIF has provided over $350 million to more than 950 organizations since its inception in 1979. Today, NIF is a leading advocate for democratic values, building the coalitions and empowering the activists that can drive meaningful social change in Israel.

Mickey Gitzin is the the Director of the New Israel Fund in Israel. Prior to joining NIF, Mickey was the founding director of “Israel Hofsheet” (Be Free Israel), a leading grassroots organization fighting for separation of religion and state in Israel. Previously, Mickey was the spokesperson for MK Ilan Gilon and the Associate Director of “Festival BeShekel,” an organization advancing arts and culture in Israel’s geographic and socioeconomic periphery. After completing his military service as an intelligence officer, he served as a shaliach (emissary) in South Bend, Indiana for the Jewish Agency for Israel. Mickey holds a Master’s in Public Policy from University College-London, for which he received a Chevening Scholarship from the British Foreign Office and the British Council.

Sign up here.